Move to Tucson Completed: New Astronomy Adventures Ahead!

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the recent move of a participant to Tucson, Arizona, and their excitement about engaging with local astronomy activities. The conversation touches on experiences related to light pollution, dark sky locations, and recommendations for local attractions relevant to astronomy enthusiasts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • A participant shares their experience of moving to Tucson and expresses eagerness to join a local astronomy organization and visit observatories, particularly Kitt Peak.
  • Another participant emphasizes the value of dark skies and shares their personal experience with light pollution, noting that even binoculars can reveal much in dark conditions.
  • One participant recounts a humorous anecdote related to driving across Texas, connecting it to their visits to Tucson.
  • Recommendations for local used bookstores are provided, highlighting cultural aspects of Tucson.
  • A participant notes that Tucson has restrictions on light pollution, making it favorable for astronomy, but also mentions that darker skies can be found outside the city.
  • Another participant reflects on their experiences with dark sky locations in Georgia and New Hampshire, suggesting that expectations for dark skies can vary significantly.
  • Suggestions are made about potential locations to view darker skies near Kitt Peak, indicating that geography may help mitigate light pollution from the city.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the excitement surrounding Tucson's astronomy opportunities and the importance of dark skies. However, there are differing views on the effectiveness of Tucson's light pollution restrictions and personal experiences with dark sky locations.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of experience with dark skies, and there are references to personal anecdotes that may not universally apply. The discussion includes subjective assessments of light pollution and sky quality.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, individuals interested in light pollution issues, and those considering a move to Tucson or similar areas may find this discussion relevant.

Drakkith
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Well, my move to Tucson is completed! 1100 miles, 20 hours, most of which was across Texas! (Shreveport, LA to Tucson, AZ)

Glad to be out here in Tucson finally. Already sent in my application to join the local astronomy organization, and I can't wait to go to some of the observatories around town! Kitt Peak is only about an hour away! Can't wait to go, as I've never been to a dark sky location before!
 
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Congrats on the move!
 
Drakkith said:
Well, my move to Tucson is completed! 1100 miles, 20 hours, most of which was across Texas! (Shreveport, LA to Tucson, AZ)

Glad to be out here in Tucson finally. Already sent in my application to join the local astronomy organization, and I can't wait to go to some of the observatories around town! Kitt Peak is only about an hour away! Can't wait to go, as I've never been to a dark sky location before!
Good viewing and good luck! My skies are generally mag 6.5, and even 7x50 binoculars can show you a lot. Dark skies are a precious resource, IMO and increasingly we are losing them.
 
Drakkith said:
most of which was across Texas!

Reminds me of the joke about the Texan bragging to a Vermonter:

TX: Why, Texas is so big, I can drive a whole day and night and another day, and I'm still in Texas!

VT: (sympathetically) I know what you mean... I used to have a car like that myself.

What area of Tucson are you in? My wife and I visited there several times (usually driving across Texas!) during my mother's last years. We usually stayed north of the city proper, along Oracle Road a few miles north of Tucson Mall.
 
jtbell said:
What area of Tucson are you in? My wife and I visited there several times (usually driving across Texas!) during my mother's last years. We usually stayed north of the city proper, along Oracle Road a few miles north of Tucson Mall.

The eastern part, near Tanque Verde.
 
If you're into used book stores, make sure to check out Bookmans. There's a store out that way, in the plaza at Speedway & Wilmot. Also at Speedway & Grant, and Ina & Thornydale (in the area where we used to stay). I bought a lot of used CDs at those stores on my visits to Tucson.
 
I visited Tuscon a lot while I lived in Phoenix. My first taste of Chipotle was there!

Tuscon is amazing for astronomy because the city itself actually restricts light pollution. However, it's still a city, so I've definitely seen darker skies. Go out into the desert to really see the sky!

We also had a "Dark Sky" location in Georgia, not too far from where I lived, and in fact they even had an astronomy village. However, the sky actually wasn't as dark as I had hoped. To the point that I actually thought my home growing up in New Hampshire had better viewing. But that shows you how precious "dark skies" really are I guess.

I still kick myself for not visiting Kitt Peak while I was there...
 
Gale said:
Tuscon is amazing for astronomy because the city itself actually restricts light pollution. However, it's still a city, so I've definitely seen darker skies. Go out into the desert to really see the sky!

I think if you head out the road to the west towards Kitt Peak, past the low peaks that are just west of the city, out into the desert a bit, that might be dark enough. The peaks would shield most of the "sideways" light from the city.
 

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